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LU outscored the nation’s No. 8 team, 17-7, in the second half of the season-opener Aug. 31, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a slow start as Idaho defeated the Cardinals, 42-17.
The highest-ranked team the Cards have faced in a season-opener since bringing back the program, the Vandals lived up to the preseason hype in the first half jumping out to a 35-0 lead, but head coach Pete Rossomando and his staff made adjustments during the intermission and began pecking away at the lead in the second half.
For the game, the Cardinals finished with 190 yards of offense, with 71 of those coming on the ground. The Vandals had 497 yards with 273 rushing. Junior Khalan Griffin led the Cards with 12 carries for 42 yards and one score. He also had a game-high three catches. Transfer Robert Coleman got the start behind center and went the distance completing 15-of-24 (.625) passes for 119 yards and a touchdown.
The Cardinals (0-1) hit the road for two straight before returning home. Lamar will be in Monroe, Louisiana, to face the UL Monroe Warhawks (1-0) on Saturday, Sept. 9, at 7 p.m.
Needing a spark to regroup after two straight losses, it would take a span of 16 minutes to see the women’s soccer team strike for three goals in the second half of their nonconference showdown with Tarleton State. Those three goals would be all the Cards needed as they would even their record at 2-2-1 with a 3-0 shutout Sept. 3.
Scoring goals for Lamar were Cariel Ellis, Laura Linares and Hollie Massey.
“It’s always nice to go on the road and get the win,” said head coach Nathan Kogut.
LU (2-2-1) is back home Thursday, Sept. 7, against Southern University at 7 p.m.
The Cardinal volleyball team dropped three matches over the weekend in San Antonio to fall to 0-5 on the season. Lamar was blanked 3-0 in all three contests to UTSA, Tarleton State and Delaware.